Podcast

Gear Smart

Golf, Sports

Which clubs should you be playing? Why are wedge grinds important? What the hell is Smash Factor and why does it matter? There's a lot to unpack in each of these questions. And Ryan Barath, Skratch's resident Gear Czar, has the answer. Every other week, Barath will be answering a selection of the hundreds of real reader questions he gets each week on Instagram, talking to the leading innovators in the gear space, and delivering the need-to-know information that can turn any dedicated golf fan into a bona fide gear head.

Golf chart
#68
Episodes
62
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
52 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
5 days ago

Episodes

62 episodes, newest first

  1. Hybrids aren't dead, TRTL is officially here and answering your fitting questions

    Season 2, Episode 42

    Show notes

    The No. 1 selling putter in Japan is officially here. Ryan shares everything to know about the new Odyssey TRTL, plus shares why hybrids aren't dead on tour and answers your fitting questions.

    51 min
  2. Limited drivers in India, Chippers (yes chippers), and out of the box ideas

    Season 2, Episode 41

    Show notes

    This week on the DP World Tour in India, we saw a number of players go with the no driver strategy. Plus we chat about why a chipper could be a score saver for your game and out of the box ideas that worked.

    46 min
  3. Michael Brennan's gear, odd putters, wide shoes and listener questions

    Season 2, Episode 40

    Show notes

    In this week's episode, Ryan dives into Michael Brennan's winning bag at the Baycurrent Classic, weird putters, including the Odyssey "TRTL", wide shoes and answers questions from listeners.

    47 min
  4. More mini drivers on DP World Tour plus New McLaren irons and PXG woods

    Season 2, Episode 39

    Show notes

    There was plenty of new gear spotted out on the DP World Tour this past week. Ryan breaks down Adrian Meronk's winning bag at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, then shares everything to know about the new Series 2 irons from McLaren, PXG Woods and more mini drives hitting the tour.

    55 min
  5. Presidents Cup, LPGA Tour Issues, & the greatest technology advances in golf history

    Season 2, Episode 38

    Show notes

    Ryan recaps an electric Presidents Cup then dives into Yuna Nishamura's winning bag at the LPGA's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and recent news of the tour's new CMO departing. He also breaks down the greatest technology advances in golf history.

    51 min
  6. New Srixon ZXi RKT Woods + Listener Q&A

    Season 2, Episode 37

    Show notes

    It's Presidents Cup week! Ryan breaks down the new ZXi RKT woods from Srixon then dives into listener questions from Instagram.

    58 min
  7. Why a fall fitting is a great idea, buying clubs from Japan, and the story of Sonartec

    Season 2, Episode 36

    Show notes

    In this week's episode, Ryan shares some long-term reviews of gear products, makes the case for why the fall is the perfect time to get fit for new golf clubs, explains into the used club market in Japan and what makes it so special, and dives deep into the story of what happened to Sonartec.

    52 min
  8. Chatting with Joseph LaMagna from The Fried Egg about data, course fit and strategy

    Season 2, Episode 35

    Show notes

    Ryan is joined by Joseph LaMagna for a wide-ranging conversation about covering the game of golf, utilizing data, strategy and understanding course fit.

    1 hr 14 min
  9. Mizuno releases the S4, Ping drops the price on 440s, and PGA TOUR season gear recap

    Season 2, Episode 34

    Show notes

    With the 2025-2026 PGA TOUR season officially ending, Ryan recaps the season in terms of gear, breaks down everything you need to know about Mizuno's more-forgiving Signature Series S4 iron, plus Ping drops the price on their 440 models–what does this mean?

    48 min
  10. Wyndham wins again, the NEW Scotty Cameron and the rise and fall of Nickent

    Season 2, Episode 33

    Show notes

    We're breaking down Wyndham Clark's dominate win at the BMW Championship and previewing the TOUR Championship, including why the ball flys longer in humid conditions. Then we're breaking down the new Scotty Camera 9.5R, why this is the year of the mallet, and taking a deep dive into the rise and fall of Nickent.

    50 min
  11. Scottie's big driver switch, IKEA golf storage hacks and chatting Cleveland wedges with Patrick Ripp

    Season 2, Episode 32

    Show notes

    RIP to Scottie's Qi10. Ryan dives into his swap into the TaylorMade Qi4D, and the numbers that helped lead to his win in Memphis. He also discusses TaylorMade's new Hi-Toe 5 wedges, interesting gear set ups at the BMW Championship, the biggest things people waste money on in golf, his IKEA golf storage hacks and more.

    Then he's joined by Cleveland/Srixon's Tour Engineering Manager Patrick Ripp to chat all things wedges, Roger Cleveland's return to the company, and more.

    57 min
  12. Talking Callaway Mini Spinner with Jacob Davidson

    Season 2, Episode 31

    Show notes

    This week we're joined by Jacob Davidson, Callaway's VP of Product Strategy and Category Management, to discuss the new Callaway Quantum Mini Spinner, products in Japan and more.

    Ryan also discusses what the right shaft for your swing can do for your game, the five things in golf that are worth the money, and answers a question from a listener about specialty pitching wedges.

    1 hr
  13. Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges, how to choose an iron for your game, and building a bag for $500

    Season 2, Episode 30

    Show notes

    Ryan breaks down the new Cleveland RTZ 2 wedges, the biggest changes from the original RTZs and Roger Cleveland's impact now that he's back with the company. Then he discusses both sides of the online debate of how to select the right iron for your game.

    He also has some fun building a bag for less than $500.

    57 min
  14. Rocket Classic Gear and Scotland Trip Recap

    Season 2, Episode 29

    Show notes

    Ryan is back after a week off in Scotland! He recaps the trip, and also discusses Ryan Fox's Open win, Jenny Shin's Scottish Open win and more.

    He also breaks down the new gear he spotted at this week's Rocket Classic and the latest new releases.

    58 min
  15. Scottish Open, Chris Gotterup's winning bag, and the world of custom putters

    Season 2, Episode 27

    Show notes

    On this week's episode, Ryan breaks down Chris Gotterup's winning bag from the John Deere Classic, including the problem with his putter that he shouldn't solve. He also dives into Scottish Open gear, the world of custom putters, shares more on Titleist's new Black Vapor T-Series irons,

    51 min
  16. Viktor Hovland's driver switch and Haeran Ryu's unique bag set up

    Season 2, Episode 26

    Show notes

    Ryan breaks down Viktor Hovland's win over Scottie Scheffler, including details on his driver switch, dives into Gary Woodland's bag and ribbed grips that he noticed at a recent shoot, and why KPMG Women's PGA Champion Haeran Ryu has one of the most unique bag set ups on the LPGA Tour.

    46 min
  17. Talking U.S. Open gear, golf ball rollback and ribbed grips

    Season 2, Episode 25

    Show notes

    Ryan recaps Wyndham Clark's win at the U.S. Open and breaks down the biggest differences in his golf bag compared to his 2023 victory. He also dives into his recent swap to a Ping putter. He also shares more about the equipment changes he saw at Shinnecock, including Bryson DeChambeau's new driver.

    He also chats about the governing bodies announcement on the potential golf ball rollback and previews this week's Travelers Championship.

    56 min
  18. Previewing the U.S. Open and talking ball R&D with Callaway's Eric Loper

    Episode 24

    Show notes

    U.S. Open week is here! Ryan previews this week's gear news before chatting with Callaway's Sr. Director of Golf Ball R&D, Eric Loper, about their design philosophy, their investment in ball R&D, utilizing AI and more.

    47 min
  19. RBC Canadian Open gear, lead tape on irons, and questions from listeners

    Season 2, Episode 23

    Show notes

    The PGA TOUR is in Ryan's backyard this week at the RBC Canadian Open. He stopped by TPC Toronto to check out what's in players bags and finally got to check out the new GTS proto fairway wood in person. Then he dives into why players utilize lead tape on their irons, and the trend of mallets winning on tour.

    52 min
  20. Talking Golf Ball Alignment with Titleist's Michael Fish

    Season 2, Episode 22

    Show notes

    Ryan dives into the success of mallet's on tour and why more players are leaning into alignment technology from tee to green. He also shares why if you're looking for new irons, an older set might be more valuable for your game than the latest releases.

    Then Ryan chats with Titleist's Sr. Manager of Golf Ball Product Management, Michael Fish, to discuss the evolution of golf ball alignment preferences, why players are focused on alignment precision and their advancements in research and technology.

    52 min